George Lampros

Born on February 14, 1943 on the island of Kalymnos, Greece during the end of World War II to Athanasios and Ypapanti Lampros. As the 2nd oldest of 6 siblings, and the first male, George left the island at the young age of 14 to help his family survive the economic difficulties that came after the war. As a young man, he worked in numerous jobs including, a junior sponge diver, carpenter, and construction laborer. At 16, he took a job on an ocean liner as a young cook, sending him on a journey around the world. The TSS Olympia was his home for the next 5 years as he cooked for passengers and honed his cooking skills as they sailed the ports of Europe and across the Atlantic Ocean to America and the Bahamas.

After a series of serendipitous events he eventually emigrated to the Caribbean Island of Nassau, Bahamas where he settled into life as a chef in a number of restaurants that served international tourists as well as to the local Greek community. It was there that he eventually met the love of his life Nomiki, also from Kalymnos, a seamstress who came to the Bahamas with her brother Theo. They married on July 9, 1967 and had their first child Athanasios in 1971.

In 1972, the family immigrated to the United States through New York City, and lived briefly with their New York family before moving to Arlington, Virginia. The settled in Northern Virginia for a few years as George worked as a chef at Alfio’s La Trattoria on Wisconsin Avenue in DC and La Bella Vista Ristorante (a rooftop restaurant in what is now known as River Place in Rosslyn) where he fine-tuned his knowledge of fine Italian Cuisine.

In 1974, the family moved to Fayetteville, North Carolina as George took a job as head chef of Leonardo’s Restaurant where he worked with his first cousin George Alevrofas. Shortly thereafter, they made their way to Tarpon Springs, Florida where they gave birth to their second son, Michael in 1976. George returned to North Carolina, this time as co-owner of Leonardo’s Restaurant in Fayetteville, before eventually selling and moving to Northern Virginia in 1980 where he worked as a chef until he opened his beloved Giorgio’s Family Restaurant in January of 1999. For the next twenty five years, George put his heart and soul into running his restaurant.

More than anything, his life was consumed with a deep love for his family, an affection for both of his countries, and his work.

Above all George was the epitome of a “Family Man”. Every decision, every move, every thought, every breath in his life was ultimately and inextricably linked back to the care and love of his family.

His homeland and “special place” was always the beautiful Island of Kalymnos. He lived and worked in America but his heart was always on the island. The happiest times of his life were spent there with his family and friends. He loved the beauty of the ocean, the majesty of the mountains, and freshness of the air from the comfort of his beautiful home on the little mountains of Panormos (Vounarakia). He was so proud of his home on Kalymnos.

But make no mistake, while his heart yearned for Kalymnos, he was a real American to the core. His wore his admiration and respect for America on his sleeve. An immigrant success story, he was grateful that the United States gave him the opportunity to pursue a life of happiness and achievement that he wouldn’t have had anywhere else in the world. One of his favorite lines, exclaimed at any given time was “God Bless America”. He loved being an American citizen and knew that this country was truly his land of opportunity.

His biggest professional achievement and the culmination of his American Dream was Giorgio’s Family Restaurant which he opened in Montclair, Virginia with his family in 1999. What started as a small deli was transformed over the years into a beautiful 130 seat restaurant and retail wine shop/bar (WineStyles of Montclair). Over the span of 25+ years he has had the pleasure of employing over a thousand employees who adored him and gave him the utmost respect. “Mr. George” loved working and teaching the younger employees and was a true example of hard work, grit, and ethics. Even at the later stages of his career, it was clear that he was always the hardest working employee in the business, day in and day out. He loved and respected his customers immensely and was adamant that his restaurant and staff provide them their best effort every day.

Alas, one of his great passions was his love of sport, specifically soccer. Throughout his life, soccer played an important role. From the streets and dirt fields of his youth, to his club playing days in Nassau, and to his youth league coaching adventures, his love of the game was a central part of his life. He loved taking his boys to RFK Stadium in Washington to watch his beloved Washington Diplomats, and then DC United, on sunny Saturday afternoons. The Lampros household never went a day without the television continuously playing some game or highlight show. He loved watching major world tournaments such as the World Cup and the Euros with his boys and celebrated joyously as Greece won the European Championship in 2004.

George leaves behind his loving wife Nomiki, his two sons Athanasios (Maria) and Michael (Martha), his four grandchildren Susanna, Nomiki, George, and Elias, and his siblings Mike (USA), Maria (France), Kondilo (Australia), Petroula (Australia), Bilio (France) and several nieces and nephews .

George is preceded in death by his parents Athanasios and Ypapanti.

Funeral arrangements have been made for Wednesday, November 27th at St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church 3149 Glen Carlyn Road, Falls Church, VA 22041. Viewing will take place at the Church from 11:00am-12:00pm, Funeral Service at 12:00pm, followed by the Cemetery Burial at 2:00pm at the National Memorial Park (7482 Lee Highway, Falls Church, VA 22042).

For those unable to attend, online streaming of the Funeral Service can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@saintkatherinefallschurchv7273/streams

In lieu of flowers, donations in George’s memory can be made to St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church at https://www.saint-katherines.org/stewardship/online-donations/ or by mail via personal check.